Extrusion apparatus



Dec. 14, 1965 WAGNER ETAl- 3,222,719

EXTRUSION APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1962 INVENTORS' P.H. WAGNER E.J. KOSINSKY United States Patent 3,222,719 EXTRUSIGN APPARATUS Paul H. Wagner, Borger, Tex., and Edward J. Kosinsky, Bartlesville, Okla, assignors to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 27, 1962, Ser. No. 212,821 1 Claim. (Cl. 18-12) This invention relates to apparatus for stranding of polyolefins. More particularly, this invention relates to a method of and apparatus for preventing collar formation in the stranding of polyolefins by preventing the buildup of polymer on the die face. In one aspect this invention relates to an improved thermoplastic stranding apparatus having a modified die therein which prevents col'laring of the strands. In another aspect this inven- Thus it is an object of this invention to provide a novel means for preventing die-facing in the formation of thermoplastic strands.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for reducing the shearing forces in the thermoplastic strands so as to avoid fouling of the strands by the separation of small amounts of the material from the extrudate.

Another object of this invention is to provide a temperature controlled strand plate for use in extruding thermoplastic strands.

Other objects, aspects, and the several advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following disclosure, drawing, and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing is a view showing an example of an extrusion apparatus for carrying out the prestion relates to an improved method for forming thermoe t Th plastic strands by establishing a linear heat gradient along i i g sg s gi gi 2 5 32? i zigi gg the strands being extruded through the die orifices and chamber is provided with means for maintaining proper i g f olfhng the temperature so as to prevent fouloperating temperature within same. Attached to die face in the fdfimi rfg of thermoplastic strands the semi- 2O is i if g Stfimd plated urts an are provi e to a ow intro uction an i g i l ergergmgf f' i holes f removal of fluid such as cooled heat transfer oil in cores aiihthe? rid to worl: thi h/:3 ElgZiSILi fie f ZI CG Of 'EEC gg i g is ig ijfi the 0t 1e ace an e stran p ate is serves to gf f g g LZEg SZ EQ iEEZSS EZ g fig gfi reduce the burden on coolant being introduced to the fouling of the die face cuts down on production and spoils z gg g gi i g g z ii ifi g g gig x z 2 5 23 the strands by penpdlcany breaking OE from the face i formed. The insulation 18 and strand plate 13 are proi dle and b h entangled m the strands In addl' vided with corresponding holes through same which are s Z222 gigg f fgig igsg i i is 2 30 of the same or longer dimensions and so aligned with 3 N 55? this facing phenomenon For f i it these orifices that the formed strands pass unobstructed through same. The strands 20 emerging from die plate 13 any esire su sequent treatment.

a: z; 523i.titfi$2i$ii2 tflfiiis ittit e to been proposed to make the die of special materials or to the mventlon' EXAMPLE coat the die with special materials, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, silicones, and the like. These devices either have not proven very successful or have not been practical 40 one'mch thick stralld Plate W1th elght 0145411611 to Operate diameter holes and four fit-111Gb. diameter coolant chan- We have now found that polymer buildup on the extm, nels was adapted to a two-inch Welding Englneers exsion die surface is prevented by attaching a controlled truder- Strand P1ate temP6Iatufe Was controllefl Wlth temperature Strand plate to h di f h plate i cooled heat transfer 011 from one of the extruder oil heatcored so as to allow a controlled flow of fluid through 8 CiYCUitS- P01 YmeTSraflg1ng from 02110 melt index same so as to maintain a predetermined temperature in Were Introduced into the extruder. The strand plate temthe area around the extrusion orifices and thus establish P at W s C lt ll d bel w 300 F. and specifically in a linear heat gradient through same. A suitable solid the range of to 300 F. The results of the runs uslng insulator can be placed between the die and the strand both homopolymers and copolymers are set forth 1n plate to serve as a thermal barrier. 50 Table I.

Table I DIE PLATE EXTRUSION Equipment:

2-inch Welding Engineers Extruder 1.900-ineh diameter compound sections Oil cooled strand die plate (RS2-2037) 180 (fiat) strand hole inlet; angle Table ICont1nued Extrusion Conditions Polymer Strand Appearance Die Face Appearance Feed Screw Cyl. Gate Stock Rate, Die Plate Speed, Torque Temp, Press, Ten1p., lbs./hr. Iemp., r.p.n1. F. p.s.i.g. F. F.

100 335 825 300 50 270 Smooth Collar formation rate slow; no apparent collar charring after 9.0 hours. 100 335 840 395 50 228-268 Smooth above 245 F. Collar formation rate slow above 245 die temperature. F. die temperature. 100 430 800 460 175-300 Smooth above 250 F. Collar formation rate slow above 250 die temperature. F. die temperature. 50 430 1, 500 520 38 260-295 Smooth above 275 F. Collar formation rate moderate and die temperature. slight eharring apparent after 5.5 hrs.

at 290 F. die temperature. 100 65 430 1,480 500 56 200 Rough Collar formation rapid; very slight charring apparent after 11.0 hrs.

The above data show that control of die plate temperature below 300 F., specifically in the range of 245 to 290 F. and preferably in the range of 250 to 275 F. results in (1) reduced polymer collar formation rate, (2) little or no collar discoloration during a lengthy period of operation, and (3) virtually no product contamination resulting from separation of the collars from the die plate.

While the thermoplastic material may be any fusible resin, optimum results have been achieved with homopolymers of ethylene and copolymers of ethylene with C to C l-olefins and diolefins. Some examples of these are propylene, l-butene, l-pentene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, l-hexene, l-octene, 1,3-butadiene and isoprene.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, various modifications of this invention can be made, or followed, in the light of the foregoing disclosure and discussion without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

We claim:

Apparatus for forming a thermoplastic material into strands comprising a die having a plurality of orifices, means to supply thermoplastic to said die under pressure to force same through the orifices therein to form the material into a plurality of strands, insulating means adjacent to said die and having a plurality of openings in same of a diameter suflicient to allow the passage therethrough of said strands, a temperature control strand plate having a linear heat gradient along same communicating with said insulating means and having a plurality of conduits through same of suificient diameter to allow passage of the strands emerging from said die, said strand plate having provided Within same a plurality of conduit means to allow the circulation therethrough of a coolant, and means to introduce to and remove coolant from said strand plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,436,201 2/1948 Cole 264l76 ROBERT F. WHITE, Primary Examiner.

ALEXANDER H. BRODMERKEL, Examiner. 

